Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Frank Celebrezze dies

CLEVELAND (AP) — Family members say former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank Celebrezze has died after a two-year fight with lung and colon cancer. He was 81.

Son Jeff Celebrezze says his father died Sunday afternoon at the Cleveland Clinic from complications after surgery.

Justice Celebrezze was a Cleveland Democrat who served in the Ohio Senate from 1956-58. He later became a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judge and was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1972. Six years later he became chief justice and served in that position until his defeat in 1986 by Thomas Moyer, the current chief justice.

Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern says Justice Celebrezze brought compassion and effective leadership to the state’s highest court.